The Madras High Court has issued a directive to the Tamil Nadu government and the state Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, instructing them to prohibit the entry of non-Hindus into the Palani temple and its sub-temples.

Emphasizing that these places are "not a picnic or tourist spot," a bench led by Justice S Srimathy has called for the installation of boards in all Hindu temples. These boards indicate that "non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple after Kodimaram."

The placement of these boards is specified at the entrance of the temples, near the flagpole, and at prominent locations within the shrine. During the court proceedings, D Senthilkumar, the organizer of the Palani Hill Temple Devotees Organization, presented a plea seeking specific directives. The plea aimed to restrict entry to the Arulmigu Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple and its sub-temples exclusively to Hindus.

The court ordered the respondents, instructing them not to permit non-Hindus who do not adhere to Hindu beliefs into the temple. In cases where a non-Hindu expresses a desire to visit a specific deity, the respondents are required to obtain an undertaking from the individual.

This undertaking should confirm the non-Hindu's faith in the deity, commitment to following Hindu customs and practices, and willingness to abide by the temple's customs. Only upon the submission of such an undertaking may the non-Hindu be allowed to visit the temple, as per the court ruling.

The court clarified that the issued order pertains exclusively to the Palani temples. However, it acknowledged that the raised issue holds broader implications and should be applicable to all Hindu temples. Despite the plea for limitations being rejected, the court emphasized that implementing such restrictions would contribute to communal harmony among different religions and foster peace in society.

The court emphasized that individuals are not permitted to treat the temple premises as a "picnic spot" while appreciating the architectural monuments, as per its ruling.

The court affirmed that individuals from other religions have the right to profess and practice their faith, but emphasized that the customs and practices of their respective religions should not be interfered with and any such interference should be restricted. It underlined that the temple is not intended for casual visitation as a picnic or tourist spot.

The court cited the example of the Arulmighu Brahadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, where individuals from other religions are allowed to admire and appreciate the architectural monuments, but with restrictions, specifically not beyond Kodimaram.

In a plea filed last June, Senthilkumar sought court directions for installing boards indicating the non-entry of non-Hindus in Palani temples. Citing an incident involving a Muslim family with burqa-clad women purchasing tickets to the Palani hilltop, Senthilkumar emphasized the absence of entry restriction signs. Despite concerns from the state government about hurting visitors' religious sentiments, the court rejected this argument.

Image source: Hindustan Times